Restroom vs. Lavatory — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Restroom and Lavatory
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Restroom
Restroom is a euphemism for a public toilet, in a publicly accessible location, or less frequently a toilet room, in a private residence. Different dialects use "bathroom" and "restroom" (American English), "bathroom" (usually includes a bathtub or shower) and "washroom" (just toilet and sink) (Canadian English), "comfort room" or "CR" (Filipino English) and "WC" (an initialism for "water closet"), "lavatory" and its abbreviation "lavvy" (British English).
Lavatory
A room, building, or cubicle containing a toilet or toilets
He locked himself in the downstairs lavatory
Public lavatories
Restroom
A room equipped with one or more toilets and sinks for public use.
Lavatory
A room equipped with washing and often toilet facilities; a bathroom.
Restroom
A room containing a public toilet: a public lavatory.
Could you tell me where I can find the restroom?
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Lavatory
A washbowl or basin, especially one permanently installed with running water.
Restroom
A toilet that is available to the public
Lavatory
A flush toilet.
Lavatory
A vessel or fixture for washing, particularly:
Lavatory
A laver: a washbasin.
Lavatory
(archaic) A bathtub.
Lavatory
(Christianity) A piscina: the basin used for washing communion vessels.
Lavatory
(Christianity) A lavabo: the basin used for washing one's hands before handling the Eucharist.
Lavatory
A baptismal font: the basin used for baptism, used figuratively for the washing away of sins.
Lavatory
(construction, interior design) A plumbing fixture used for washing: a sink.
Their 'bathroom' included a toilet and a lavatory but no bath.
Lavatory
Handwashing as an act, particularly
Lavatory
(Christianity) The lavabo: the ritual washing of hands before handling the eucharist.
Lavatory
(Christianity) The ritual washing of hands after using the piscina to clean the communion vessels.
Lavatory
(obsolete) A liquid used in washing; a lotion; a wash; a rinse.
Lavatory
(dated) A washroom: a room used for washing the face and hands.
Lavatory
(euphemism) A room containing a toilet: a bathroom US or WC UK.
Americans don't know 'WC' and Brits mock 'bathroom' but everyone usually understands 'toilet' or 'lavatory'.
Lavatory
A plumbing fixture for urination and defecation: a toilet.
Lavatory
(dated) A place to wash clothes: a laundry.
Lavatory
(obsolete) A place where gold is panned.
Lavatory
(obsolete) A paved room in a mortuary where corpses are kept under a shower of disinfecting fluid.
Lavatory
(dated) Washing, or cleansing by washing.
Lavatory
Washing, or cleansing by washing.
Lavatory
A place for washing.
Lavatory
A basin or other vessel for washing in.
Lavatory
A wash or lotion for a diseased part.
Lavatory
A place where gold is obtained by washing.
Lavatory
A room containing one or more sinks for washing, as well as one or more toilet fixtures; also called bathroom, toilet, and sometimes commode. Commode and toilet may refer to a room with only a toilet fixture, but without a sink.
Lavatory
A room equipped with toilet facilities
Lavatory
A bathroom or lavatory sink that is permanently installed and connected to a water supply and drainpipe; where you wash your hands and face;
He ran some water in the basin and splashed it on his face
Lavatory
A toilet that is cleaned of waste by the flow of water through it
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